Unsealing attachment for cans



(No Model.) r S. W. SIMMONS.

I UNSEALING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

No. 503,500. Patented Aug. 15, 1893.

UNITED STaTns ATnNT @rrrcn.

STEPHEN TV. SIMMONS, OF CLINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

UNSEALING ATTACHMENT FOR CANS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,500, dated August 15, 1893.

Application filed February 6, 1893. Serial No. 61,239. (N0 model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, STEPHEN W. SIMMONS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Olinton, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Unsealing Attachments for Cans, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an unsealing attachment for cans, the flanged tops of which are secured in place, and the can sealed by means of a wrapper pasted around the periphery of the can. A string or wire is wound around the upper end of the can before the wrapper is applied and its inner end is secured to the upper end of the can while its outer end projects so that by pulling said outer end, the Wrapper may be out neatly around the edge of the flange of the cover, and permit the box to be opened with convenience and without undue mutilation of the label. If a thread is used, it may be waxed or otherwise treated to prevent the paste of the label sticking thereto, so that the cut will be sharply defined. The inner end of the severing cord or wire,is preferably attached by forcing its end into the bight of a small cut made in the edge of the can, after which the cord is wrapped around the upper end of the can and the flange of the cover placed over it or the cover is first placed on over the inner end of the cord and the cord then wrapped around against the shoulder formed by the lower edge of the cover of the can. In either case the wrapper is pasted around the can, and the cord covered, with the exception of the free end, which is left protruding.

The invention will be fully understood upon reference to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can having the unsealing attachment ready to perform its work. Fig. 2 is a view illustrating one method of applying the severing-cord, and Figs. 3 and 4., are perspective views illustrating another method.

1 represents a can which may be of any suitable form and which is provided with a shoulder 2 and the upper end 3. The upper end 3 is adapted to receive a cover 4:: the cover being formed with a flange 5 to fit over the end 3 of the box.

6 represents the severing cord or wire shown projecting from beneath the edge of the wrapper in Fig. 1. In Fig. 2, the cord 6, is shown with its inner end caught in the bight of a notch or cut- 7 in the upper edge of the can, after which it is wrapped around the end 3. The cover 4 is then placed on the can and the end of the cord 6 is allowed to protrude. The wrapper is then placed on the can in the usual way so that the free end 6 is not folded in beneath the wrapper. The can thus sealed may be neatly and conveniently unsealed by simply pulling the end of the cord, 6, outwardly or around the can in the oppoposite direction to that in which it was wound. It will be observed that when the cover is placed on, the cord 6 may be beneath the flange of the cover, but this does not in any way interfere with the operation of the cord for the reason that it will follow down from beneath the cover when the end is drawn, and, escaping at the lower edge of the cover, will cut the wrapper. The edge of the cover thus becomes an accurate gage to cause the cord to tear in a straight line.

From Figs. 3 and 4, it will be observed that after the string 6 is first secured at its inner end in the notch 7, as shown in dotted lines, the cover is put on, after which the string is wound around against the shoulder formed beneath the lower edge of the cover, and the wrapper 8 is placed on as before. WVhen it is desired to unseal the can, the string is pulled as before and is prevented from running otherwise than in astraight line around the can, by the groove in which it lies. It will therefore be seen that in this case also the edge of the cover and the side of the can serve to assist in the operation of preparing a can in accordance with my invention and also render practicable the operation of unsealing without mutilating the wrapper. If a beaded can is employed the beading helps to confine the thread.

From the foregoing, it will be observed that my invention may be applied to a can rapidly and conveniently without materially increasing the expense, and when applied, adds materially to the attractiveness of the article and convenience in use while at the same time it leaves the wrapper practically intact so far as advertising or other printed matter thereon is concerned, when the can is opened.

Having thus described my invention, the

following is what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. The combination of a can, the cover having a flange fitting over the end of the can, the cord or wire wound around the can, and having its inner end secured between the upper end of the can and the flange of the cover and its free end projectingbeneath the edge of the cover, and the wrapper pasted around beneath the edge of the cover, and from beneath the wrapper, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a sealed package, the combination of the can and its flanged cover, the cord secured within the flanged cover over the upper end of the can and passing around the package on the line of severance between the can and its cover, and the wrapper pasted around the can for sealing the package; said cord being previously treated to prevent sticking of the label thereto, whereby mutilation of the wrapper is avoided in unsealing the can, substantially as described.

4. In a sealed package, the combination of the can, having the shoulder and the end above said shoulder, the cover having a flange fitting over the end of the can and extending down to near the shoulder, the cord secured within the flanged cover over the upper end of the can and passed around the can between the cover flange and the shoulder and the Wrapper pasted around the can and cover and inclosing the cord except at one end, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

STEPHEN W. SIMMONS.

Witnesses:

EDMOND A. EVANS, EDWARD G. STEVENS. 

